BORREGO SPRINGS: Fire sparks concern over bighorn sheep

As flames from the Eagle fire spread east to the rugged slopes
of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, fears grew for the safety of a
herd of desert bighorn sheep and for the fate of native palm groves
found in the canyons of the San Ysidro Mountains.

State fire spokeswoman Julie Hutchinson said Sunday that the
more-than-10,000-acre fire on the Los Coyotes reservation was about
35 percent contained. It has burned through steep, rugged terrain
into neighboring Anza-Borrego State Park. More than 1,100
firefighters are on the scene.

Late Saturday night, the glow of the fire could be seen from
Borrego Springs, along with flames as the fire reached pockets of
dry fuel. The Friends of Anza-Borrego Desert Facebook page buzzed
with concern.

Borrego Springs resident Mark Jorgensen, a retired
superintendent of the state park and an expert on bighorn sheep,
said the biggest effect of the fires would be esthetics.

"It's going to be ugly for a while, but the long-term effects of
the fire will be beneficial to both bighorn sheep and the palm
groves," he said.

While he watched the progress of the flames from his home in
Borrego Springs, he said it is unlikely that few if any sheep will
be killed in the fire.

"This is not a fast-moving fire once it gets down on the desert
slopes, and the sheep can easily avoid the flames," he said. "The
fires will open the habitat and help expand the sheep range."

Jorgensen said long periods without fire result in the growth of
thick brush that actually reduces bighorn sheep range.

Areas that have not burned in years tend to become covered with
thick brush that do not provide food for sheep and limit their
movement. By next spring, areas burned will see fresh growth from
root crowns and there will new water sources available that sheep
could not access before.

Volunteers earlier this month completed a summer bighorn sheep
census in the park and counted 329 animals, the second-highest
number of sheep observed during 41 years of annual observation. The
elusive animals are federally protected and only about 1,000 are
estimated to live in their range from the U.S.-Mexico border to
Mount San Jacinto in Riverside County.

One of the most popular attractions within the 700,000-acre
state park are the native palm groves tucked into remote canyons,
mostly along the western edge of the desert.

Jorgensen said it appears that some groves have been burned.

"While it might not be pretty, the fire will actually clear away
competition and accumulated debris like old palm fronds and
contribute to the overall health of the groves," Jorgensen
said.

The flash floods of 2004 did more damage to the palms because
entire groves were uprooted and swept away.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Ranger Steve Bier has been
monitoring progress of the fire and says it appears the worst-hit
areas are Indian, Sheep and Cougar canyons. These are remote areas
popular with hikers because of the native palm groves, waterfalls
and desert wildlife. Bier said heavy smoke has made it difficult
for rangers to do an aerial assessment of the damage, but it does
appear that Palm Mesa at the upper end for the north fork of Palm
Canyon has been overrun.

One of the most popular destinations for hikers in the park is
the lower palm grove in Borrego Palm Canyon. Bier said that appears
safe, but radically shifting winds could change the situation at
any time.

When interviewed, Bier said the next thread appears to be
Salvador Canyon at the western edge of Coyote Canyon and directly
in front of advancing flames. While remote, this is one of the most
spectacular collections of palms in the park.

Groves damaged by flames could affect owl and bat habitat, but
most nesting birds, including a few eagles in the park, have
completed their cycle for this season.

"While no one likes to see the damage caused by fire, when you
are dealing with nature, it's not all bad news," Jorgensen
said.